2012 Discretionary Grant Programs

This collection of information is voluntary and will be used to determine the eligibility of projects that address the shortage of long-term parking for commercial motor vehicles (CMV) on the National Highway System. The public reporting burden is estimated to average 39.58 hours per response, including the time for reviewing instructions searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the collection of information. Please note that an agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid Office of Management and Budget (OMB) control number. The OMB control number for this collection is 2125-0610, with an expiration date of April 30, 2013. Send comments regarding this burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing this burden to: Information Collection Clearance Officer, Federal Highway Administration, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590

TRUCK PARKING FACILITIES PROGRAM DISCRETIONARY GRANTS FOR FY 2012

SELECTION CRITERIA AND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Statutory References

SAFETEA-LU Section 1305

Program Summary

The Truck Parking Facilities Program was established under Section 1305 of the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act – A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU) to address the shortage of long-term parking for commercial motor vehicles (CMV) on the National Highway System. The statute directs the Secretary of Transportation to allocate funds for the program among the States, metropolitan planning organizations (MPO), and local governments based on project applications submitted by those entities to the Secretary of Transportation.

Funding

Funded by contract authority; funds are not transferable. Funds are subject to the overall Federal-aid highway obligation limitation. Funds are to be allocated by the Secretary of Transportation to States.

Federal Share

The Federal share of the cost of a project under this program shall be determined in accordance with 23.U.S.C. § 120.

Eligible Use of Funds

Proposed projects must address the shortage of long-term parking for CMV on the National Highway System. Project proposals may, but are not required to, include the following:

Constructing safety rest areas (as defined in section 120(c) of title 23, U.S.C.) that include parking for CMV;

Promoting the availability of publicly or privately provided CMV parking on the National Highway System using intelligent transportation systems (ITS) and other means;

Constructing turnouts along the National Highway System for CMV;

Making capital improvements to public CMV parking facilities currently closed on a seasonal basis to allow the facilities to remain open year-round;

Improving the geometric design of interchanges on the National Highway System to improve access to CMV parking facilities.

Statutory Priority Considerations

In allocating funds made available to carry out the Truck Parking Facilities Program, Section 1305(b)(4) of SAFETEA-LU requires the Secretary to give priority to applicants that:

Demonstrate a severe shortage of CMV parking capacity in the corridor to be addressed. To address this issue, applicants may indicate the current number of available spaces, access to existing spaces, or information/knowledge of space availability. Applicants may also submit information such as:

Average Daily Truck Traffic (ADTT) in the proposal area;

Average daily shortfall of truck parking the proposal area;

Ratio of ADTT to average daily shortfall of truck parking in the proposal area;

Driver surveys;

Observational field studies;

Proximity to freight loading/unloading facilities; or

Proximity to the National Highway System.

Have consulted with affected State and local governments, community groups, private providers of CMV parking, and motorist and trucking organizations.

Demonstrate that their proposed projects are likely to have positive effects on highway safety, traffic congestion, or air quality.

Project Selection Criteria

In addition to the statutory priority considerations outlined above, applications also will be evaluated based on the following considerations:

The extent to which the proposed project resolves the described shortage. For example, applicants may include:

The number of additional truck parking spaces per day that will be used as a result of the proposed project; or

The cost effectiveness of the proposed project. For example, applicants may address:

How many truck parking spaces will be used per day per dollar expended;

The total cost of the proposed project, including all non-Federal funds that will contribute to the project; or

Cost of pavement rehabilitation due to truck parking on roadway or ramp shoulders (anticipated cost savings).

Scope of the proposal:

Whether the principles outlined in the proposal can be applied to other locations/projects and possibly serve as a model for other locations.

Management of the project:

The extent to which project management principles are applied, and, if ITS Technology is recommended, the extent to which projects demonstrate compliance with the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) ITS regulations at 23 C.F.R. Part 940.

Policy Considerations

Restoring economic health and creating jobs through improvements to transportation infrastructure are among the highest priorities of the FHWA. In furtherance of these priorities, the FHWA will give priority consideration to projects and activities that create new jobs in the short-term and contribute to the economic competitiveness of the United States over the long-term. Applicants are encouraged to explain how their project will contribute to increased employment and enhance economic competitiveness.

In addition to a project's transportation and economic benefits, when allocating funds to carry out the Fiscal Year 2012 discretionary programs, the FHWA will also give consideration to providing an equitable and geographic distribution of funds.

Submission Requirements

Applications are due from the State departments of transportation (State DOTs) to the FHWA division offices by January 6, 2012. The applications must be submitted electronically in PDF. Late applications will not be considered. Candidate projects must meet program eligibility criteria and will be evaluated on the selection criteria established for the program. Applications that do not meet the eligibility requirements and address the selection criteria will be considered incomplete and will not be considered.

Awarded projects will be administered by the applicable State DOTs as a Federal-aid grant.

Proposal Content

All proposals should include the following:

A detailed project description, which would include a description of the severity and extent of the long-term truck parking shortage in the corridor to be addressed, along with contact information for the project's primary point of contact, and whether funds are being requested under 23 U.S.C. §§ 120(b) or 120(c). Data helping to define the shortage may include truck volume (ADTT) in the corridor to be addressed, current number of long-term commercial motor vehicle parking spaces, use of current long-term parking spaces, driver surveys, observational field studies, proximity to freight loading/unloading facilities, and proximity to the National Highway System.

The rationale for the project should include an analysis and demonstration of how the proposed project will positively affect the identified truck parking shortage, safety, economic competitiveness and sustainability, traffic congestion, or air quality in the identified corridor. It is imperative that the applicant include the number of additional truck parking spaces that will be utilized based upon the solution(s) proposed.

The scope of work should include a complete listing of activities to be funded by the request, including technology development, information processing, information integration activities, developmental phase activities (planning, feasibility analysis, environmental review, engineering or design work, and other activities), construction, reconstruction, acquisition of real property (including land related to the project and improvements to land), environmental mitigation, construction contingencies, acquisition of equipment, and operational improvements.

Stakeholder identification should include evidence of prior consultation and/or partnership with affected MPOs, local governments, community groups, private providers of CMV parking, and motorist and trucking organizations. Also include a listing of all public and private partners, and the role each will play in the execution of the project. Commitment/consultation examples may include: Memorandums of Agreement, Memorandums of Understanding, contracts, meeting minutes, letters of support/commitment, and documentation in a metropolitan transportation improvement program or statewide transportation improvement program.

A detailed quantification of eligible project costs by activity, an identification of all funding sources that will supplement the grant and be necessary to fully fund the project, and the anticipated dates on which the additional funds are to be made available. Matching funds will be required for projects eligible under 23 U.S.C. § 120(b).

Applicants should provide a timeline that includes work to be completed and anticipated funding cycles. Gantt charts are preferred.

Include a timeline for complying with National Environmental Policy Act requirements and the type of clearance received or anticipated.

Include a project map that consists of a schematic illustration depicting the project and connecting transportation infrastructure. Digital maps should accompany all submissions, either hard copy or electronic submissions made in PDF file format. Please reference in the proposal if the maps are available.

Describe a measurement plan to determine whether or not the project achieved its intended results. The measurement plan should continue for 3 years beyond the completion date of the project. After the 3-year period, a final report quantifying the results of the project should be submitted to the FHWA.

Proposals should not exceed 12 pages in length. Additional information supporting the application such as maps, technical information providing further demonstration of project need, and letters of endorsement can be submitted as addendums to the application and will not count against the suggested application page limit.

State Transportation Agency Responsibilities

Coordinate with metropolitan planning organizations and local governments within the State to develop project applications.

Ensure that the applications are completed for candidate projects in accordance with the submission requirements outlined above.

If required, establish priorities if more than one project is submitted for the State.

Submit the applications electronically to the local FHWA division office on time so that the submission deadline can be met.

Submit request to FHWA division office for allocation of funds, after awards are announced, and when project funds are ready to be obligated.

Announcement of Awards / Allocation of Funds

Congress will be notified before funds are allocated to the States. When this congressional notification process is completed, the Office of Operations will issue an announcement by email to all FHWA division offices, announcing the Truck Parking Facilities projects that will be funded and the amount of funding for each project.

States may then request that funds be allocated for any projects for which the funds are ready to be obligated. Awarded projects can be found at the Web site http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/discretionary. The State DOT shall send an email to the FHWA division office indicating the project, the amount requested for allocation, and the date by which the funds will be obligated. The Office of Operations will issue the allocation memorandum within a few days of receiving the request. These funds are subject to August redistribution. Therefore, any allocated funds must be obligated by the end of the fiscal year.